Jet vs Bessey revolution clamp

[toolaholic]

I decided to invest in some parallel clamps . I got the 31” Bessey revo at Rockler before Christmas with a 20% off coupon. It was $50.99 - 10.20. $40.79 out the door. The jet was bought from parts buddy on eBay with a 15% off coupon . $78.50 - $11.78 for a total of 66.72. I like the jet slightly better because of the lever moves clamp on bar but not sure if it’s worth the premium . The Bessey are nice clamps for the money. They even have a 6mm hex head to tighten tighter. I got some parallel clamps cause the first clamps I reach for are my 18” Bessey uniclamps. Last pic is Uniclamp next to a revo jr. The jet is slightly bent at end. I sent a jet 12 back to zoro cause it was really bent .

 

[toolaholic]

The bent 12” jet

 

[toolaholic]

I have a Bessey revo 24 and 31. A jet 31 A Bessey 18 revo jr. I have 2 jet 12s coming from eBay and a Bessey revo 18 on back order from Rockler When the revo gets delivered eventually I will compare it to the jr. 18 revo vs 18 revo jr

 

[toolaholic]

I can use my old craftsman (Bessey) clamp connector ,that I bought on clearance many moons ago for a song , to connect my clamps. The jet fits groove but will need hole enlarged. The longest clamp I have is a Jorgensen aluminum bat clamp that is 50”. I can daisy chain my 2 31s and make a 62.

 

[mike93lx]

I haven't sprung for any parallel jaw clamps yet, but really should. F style clamps have always worked well enough for me as I haven't done many panel glue ups.

What kinds of projects are you doing with them?

 

[lardy1]

I glue up panels with F-clamps because I'm too cheap to buy parallel clamps. I've been seriously reconsidering my tightwad stance.

Update: I ordered a pair of Jorgensen 36" this morning.

 

[acer66]

Nice, I also bought two sets of the Bessey‘s when Rockler had that deal.
They are my go to clamps besides smaller stuff but I also might get some shorter ones because the 2‘ from the kit are the shortest ones I have.

 

[toolaholic]

I haven't sprung for any parallel jaw clamps yet, but really should. F style clamps have always worked well enough for me as I haven't done many panel glue ups.

What kinds of projects are you doing with them?

Bookshelves, cd / dvd storage and outdoor furniture

 

[LeeG]

I have had about 30 of the Jet Parallel clamps ranging from in length from 12" to 60" for 8 or 10 years now. I have been pretty happy with them. I don't care for the handles on the screws. They are a molded plastic with the ends pressed on, and those pressed ends do not stay on. You cannot clamp down on them super hard (as in cheater bar on them) without breaking the internal pins off, but I expect that is true with any parallel clamp.

I have found them totally satisfactory for all my cabinet making needs. The little 12" ones get a ton of use. I have 12", 24", 36", 48", and 60".



Lee

 

[toolaholic]

I have had about 30 of the Jet Parallel clamps ranging from in length from 12" to 60" for 8 or 10 years now. I have been pretty happy with them. I don't care for the handles on the screws. They are a molded plastic with the ends pressed on, and those pressed ends do not stay on. You cannot clamp down on them super hard (as in cheater bar on them) without breaking the internal pins off, but I expect that is true with any parallel clamp.

I have found them totally satisfactory for all my cabinet making needs. The little 12" ones get a ton of use. I have 12", 24", 36", 48", and 60".



Lee

Any problems with bent or bowed ones from factory . The 12 from zoro was bowed. The 31 from parts buddy is just slightly bent on the end. The 12 I sent back. I can live with the slight bend at end on the 31

 

[purplezr2]

I have a bunch of Jorgenson ones, and some Bessey ones. I like both

 

[jar944]

I like the Jets and the rubber handle Jorgensen best. I have a pile of both. Some of the jets came bowed, just bend them back.

 

[toolaholic]

I like the Jets and the rubber handle Jorgensen best. I have a pile of both. Some of the jets came bowed, just bend them back.

How do you bend them back? I’d like to fix that little end bend on the jet 31.

 

[Steve_P]

OP: Yikes those were expensive for there to be any quality issues! I have some Pony or Jorgensen that look like the orange ones in Acer66's pics. They're ~10 years old, but I know I paid nothing anywhere close to $50 ea.

 

[jar944]

How do you bend them back? I’d like to fix that little end bend on the jet 31.

If I recall, by hand. They were bowed in the middle and were not that hard to bend back. It's been awhile though.

 

[rlitman]

I have had about 30 of the Jet Parallel clamps ranging from in length from 12" to 60" for 8 or 10 years now. I have been pretty happy with them. I don't care for the handles on the screws. They are a molded plastic with the ends pressed on, and those pressed ends do not stay on. You cannot clamp down on them super hard (as in cheater bar on them) without breaking the internal pins off, but I expect that is true with any parallel clamp...

I have exactly 30 of the original Bessey K body clamps that I bought used in 2010 from a guy who got 35 of them in assorted sizes from a cabinet shop and wanted his garage space back at $10 a piece. When I got there, he had them lined up and said he wanted to keep a few for himself but that he only wanted the smaller ones, so I took the 30 longest and ran. They've served me quite well, even though many of the wood handles are chewed from channellock abuse.

Anyway, they all have their own issues, and they're all great clamps. Your Jets are probably better than my first generation Besseys, but they'll all do the job when glueup day comes. I can't say I've ever needed a cheater on the handles, but maybe I spend too much time exercising my grip. Newer generation clamps have all sorts of neat features from stands to connectors to reversible heads for expanding that I could probably use, but don't feel any real need for.

I got one of those Craftsman connectors on clearance, but it doesn't fit my Bessey clamps. It'll probably waste space on my shelf forever.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I'm pretty well tooled with quick clamps and pipe clamps, but the parallel clamps have obvious advantages... damn it.

 

[jar944]

I'm pretty well tooled with quick clamps and pipe clamps, but the parallel clamps have obvious advantages... damn it.

Clamping force is not one of those advantages.

 

[LeeG]

The one I broke was from me trying to force a warped board straight. I had some of the original Bessy parallel clamps from the guy I bought my shop equipment from and I wasn't impressed - the Jets were much better. I went out and checked my clamps and I don't notice any bend in any of them, but then I bought all of mine from local shops.

I have some old Gross-Stable clamps also, and a few of the USA made Pony parallel clamps. I like both of those better than the Jets, but neither are available any more. The photo I posted above is the outer door of my clamp cabinet. Inside there are a bunch more, including all my pipe clamps.

 

[toolaholic]

Ok got the 2 jet 12s from eBay. I’ll keep them but from now on Bessey. Or maybe I’ll give Jet a call. The one is slightly bowed and the other has deviations in it.

 

[toolaholic]

Besseys are straight

 

[slowtwitch73]

Do these clamps bow under clamping pressure, or do they stay flat to aid in keeping glueups flat?

I ask because there are some good looking homemade clamps out there... they use conduit, but I wonder about bowing. I can't find comments on it.

 

[RTM]

The Bessey K Body clamp I have all stay straight under pressure. The elongated bar really helps with that over a pipe clamp.

They purposely have round handles so you can’t overpressure them with a hex wrench, you will strip the teeth off the bar if you try hard enough.

I have a pair each of 60, 40, and 31”. Used them for panel and carcass buildups on a couple of tables, they paid for themselves in reduced frustration.

I have a boatload of F clamps for most things, get them close, before I haul out the heavy, finger pinching K Bodies.

 

[lardy1]

Today I used my new Jorgensens. First time in my 68 years that I ever had the pleasure of using any. There are more in my future. Why did I wait so long?

 

[lardy1]

Tightass checking in here..........Does anyone have experience with the Powertec parallel clamps? Priced considerably lower than the Jorgensen's. I did read an internet article that said they were good value. But I'd rather hear the opinions of real users if any of you are out there.

 

[jar944]

Do these clamps bow under clamping pressure, or do they stay flat to aid in keeping glueups flat?

I ask because there are some good looking homemade clamps out there... they use conduit, but I wonder about bowing. I can't find comments on it.

They all bow a bit, even the I bar clamps unless you go up to the JLT or equivalent type.